There's a little more noise than might be expected in some shots, but on the whole, the Pentax Optio WG-2 puts in a good performance. Its looks are unconventional and the shutter release is a little dull, but otherwise it's a comfortable, lightweight and versatile choice for the budget-conscious buyer looking for a rugged waterproof snapper.

You'll struggle to find a new camera with such impressive specs any cheaper. Sadly, the Pentax Optio VS20's performance didn't stand up to close scrutiny. The dual shutter buttons are a neat feature, but you may be better provided by a high-end camera from last year, which will come close to matching the specs at a similar price.

Ignore the low-tech case, the clicky buttons and the slightly grainy back screen and focus instead on the great results you can get from this mid-priced superzoom. The Pentax Optio RZ18 really is much better than its build quality suggests, and keenly priced too.

The Pentax Optio RS1500's design won't be to everyone's tastes, and the swappable skins are a gimmick, but it's fundamentally a very respectable budget camera. Its only real weakness is its poor build quality.

The Pentax Optio S1 is small, affordable and doesn't skimp on the specs. Picture quality isn't spectacular but those looking for a simple, stylish compact in the sub-£100 price bracket should definitely give it a shot.

The Pentax Optio RS1000 is a basic yet affordable pocket camera that combines the essentials of a high-ish resolution, HD video, large LCD and optical zoom, taking better snaps than expected given its low price.

If you only have £100 or less to spend on a friendly beginner camera, the Pentax Optio M900 offers a fair return for a modest investment. But an outlay of just £50 more will get you a better camera in Nikon's similar S5100 -- and better pictures, too.